Buying my first house has inspired the party planner and decorator in me. I’m always on a mission to find chic decorations for my home, to prepare my space for entertaining.
Before having my first party, I set out to find the perfect bar cart, since my crowd never complains about a well mixed drink. After searching for months, I finally found an antique bar cart that complimented my space, style, and wallet. Now, the next challenge was figuring out what to put on the cart. After evaluating factors such as color schemes, textures and selecting a theme, I finally put together a bar cart that Donald Drapper would approve of.
Here are a few tips on how to style a bar cart
A bar cart should be a reflection of your personal style, while working in harmony with the decorations that you already have in the room where your bar car will be kept regularly. While there is no right or wrong way to style a bar cart, their a few key elements to give it a fashionable feel.
Assuming that you already have a bar cart to fit your space, these are the essential items that every bar cart should include:
Drink(s) of choice- What’s a bar cart without the booze?!?! When stocking adult beverages for your cart, make sure to only focus on the drinks that you consume regularly. There is no need line your cart in bottles, since it will only clutter your space. Don’t forget to include a few essential mixers such as sparkling water, club soda, and soft drinks.
Bar Tools & Accessories- Focus on the essential bar tools for your cart, such as an ice bucket, shaker, bottle opener, straws, and coasters. If you have a roomy cart (like mine!), squeeze in a few drink books somewhere on your cart. I like to use books as the base of my conversation piece.
Glassware- Of course you need a few glasses to serve your adult beverages in. Don’t worry about stocking your cart with every juggler and flute in your cabinet; instead only keep the glasses that compliment the beverages on your cart.
Artwork- Instantly give your cart a cultured appearance by including a framed piece of art. Maybe your artsy fartsy friend gave you an original that is perfect for your cart, or your flea market find is begging for a spot in your home. If your into quotes and sayings instead, check out Etsy.com for a great selection of prints.
Fresh Flowers- Flowers bring your cart to life and add a nice pop of color. I like to use fresh flowers on my cart, but you can also opt for silk flowers instead, which require less maintenance and are always in bloom.
Conversation Piece- Every stylish bar cart has to have a conversation piece. This can be any interesting decorative object that fits the design aesthetic of your bar cart. You may already have a fun figure to put on your cart, but if you are searching for one, head to your nearest Z Gallerie, TJ Maxx or thrift store. All of these places usually have a good variety of interesting objects to choose from.
Do you have a bar cart in your home? What do you keep on your cart?
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